Israel Think Tank Warns: Russia’s Strategy Poses Threat to Tel Aviv
Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) has accused Russia of accelerating its global partnerships with ‘destabilizing actors’. The think tank said this shift stems from Russia’s deepening conflict with the West in recent years.
INSS warned that many of these actors, including states and resistance groups Israel labels as terrorists, operate in the Middle East. Their activities pose an indirect threat to Israel, the report said.
According to the institute, Russian President Vladimir Putin began discussing arms transfers to conflict zones in 2024. He moved toward sending weapons to areas opposing Western support for Ukraine. Looser export rules by U.S. arms suppliers helped Ukraine, pushing Russia to seek new strategies.
The report highlighted Russia’s growing ties with Yemen’s Houthi movement. INSS said Moscow considered supplying the Houthis with advanced cruise missiles. Russian military officers reportedly visited Houthi bases to offer advice and satellite imagery to aid operations.
Talks with a prominent Russian arms dealer also aimed to deepen arms deals with the movement, the report added.
In Gaza, Russia leveraged the ongoing genocide to strengthen Hamas politically, claimed the Israeli report citing Moscow’s hosting of Hamas delegations and backing UN resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
In Syria, after the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Moscow reached temporary understandings with the new rulers. Russia is now negotiating to keep its military bases on the Syrian coast.
Russia has also expanded military cooperation with Iran. Tehran supplied Moscow with drones and ballistic missiles for the Ukraine war, according to the report. In return, Russia agreed to large arms deals and deployed electronic warfare systems to Iran to counter the rising American presence.
Moscow and Tehran signed a strategic partnership in January 2025 to boost military and political cooperation.
The INSS report said Russia’s stance toward Israel has wavered. Moscow defended Iran’s missile operation against Israel in April 2024 as self-defense but later tried to mediate tensions to prevent wider conflict.
Russia sees Israel as both a threat and an opportunity, according to the Israeli think tank. Israel’s strong military capabilities force Moscow to weigh its moves carefully. After Israel’s military assaults in Lebanon, Iran, and Syria in late 2024, Russia adjusted its policies to avoid further confrontation.
INSS urged Israel to remain vigilant. It recommended that Israel show strength and take action where necessary to counter Russia’s ‘growing ties’ with its enemies. The think tank stressed that Israel must recognize Russia’s opportunistic behavior and prepare for the risks it brings.
